Five Takeaways From The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics' "Patient Apps for Improved Healthcare: From Novelty to Mainstream" Report

1. Despite the large number of healthcare apps developed, most have only limited functionality. More than 90% of healthcare apps reviewed scored less than 40 out of 100 for functionality.
2. The downloading and use of healthcare apps is limited. More than 50 percent of available healthcare apps have been downloaded fewer than 500 times.
3. Few apps are designed to address areas of greatest need. Patients over the age of 65 are among the top users of healthcare resources, yet smartphone use & app downloads are lowest among this group.
4. Most physicians remain wary of formally recommending healthcare apps. Physicians recognize value but won't recommend w/out evidence of benefits, guidelines regarding use, & confidence in security.
5. For apps to move from novelty to mainstream, 4 areas need to be addressed. Recognition of role apps play; security & privacy guidelines; systematic evaluation; effective integration w/ patient care.

Source: IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics
Source URL: http://www.imshealth.com/portal/site/imshealth/menuitem.c762...

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